Aethionema grandiflorum

Persian Stonecrest is a beautiful subshrub with glaucous evergreen foliage that is dusted in a fine white powder. Fragrant light pink to lilac flowers cover the compact mound from spring to summer. Flowers are followed by unusual papery seed pods that provide interest through fall and winter.

Growing Note: This plant does best in the west, however, it can be grown successfully in the Northeast as long as it is provided with excellent drainage. Best in a rock garden or alpine garden. Plant in spring or early summer. It needs a long, warm growing season to establish a healthy root system before the cold and wet sets in.

Zones: 4 to 8

Family: Brassicaceae

Type: Evergreen Perennial

Height: 3 to 4 in.

Spread: 6 to 7 in.

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil: Dry, Sandy, Well-drained, Rock, or Alpine Garden

Bloom Time: June to July

Native Range: Turkey to Iran

Image Credits:

Image 1 (form with flowers) Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Image 2 (foliage) Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons